The Origins of my Educational Passion by Eric

The Origins of my Educational Passion by Eric - July 2019 Scholarship Essay

Education has always been a passion in my family. I have always had the dream of attending college and this past year I have been fortunate enough to be enrolled at St. Mary’s University. Obtaining an education is life-changing for me, I am a first-generation college student so I believe I am breaking a chain which has held down my family for years. As the first one in my family to go to college I feel the responsibility of sparking a change and as English author, Mark A. Cooper, would say, "Life has no remote, get up and change it yourself." This is very much true and I am determined to continue my education and achieve my goals. Having a passion for education to me means the ability to make a difference in the world.
As a student who is living in the San Antonio area during my time in college, I witness a lot of need in the surrounding areas of Bexar County (San Antonio). There is also much injustice occurring, especially among the Latino/ Hispanic community, because of this in the next five years I plan on enrolling into a combined degree law and business program where I can obtain my Juris Doctor and, God willing, one day practice immigration law to help many families who are unable to afford an attorney to help them with their immigration case. The reason why I feel so inclined to help this specific group of people is because of a similar experience that occurred to me. During the summer break of my sixth-grade year, my father was sent to Mexico because he had an order of deportation even though he had his permanent residency. After my father’s departure, my mother, two younger sisters, and I were left behind. This being the case, I had to take a humongous step forward as the man of the house. I now had the responsibility of helping out my mother, which included taking care of my sisters, doing more house chores than usual, and preparing meals. Alongside this, I also had to witness my mother waking up at six in the morning to get her daughters ready for school and not coming back until late in the afternoon, this became my daily routine. It would break my heart to hear her in pain when the physical labor began to get to her. All these experiences would inundate my mind in class. I would not be able to focus from thinking about all the bills stacking up in the mailbox, my mother’s physical discomforts, my father’s immigration case, how these experiences would be impacting my six-year-old and eight-month-old sister, and my mental stability.
Knowing the struggles that many families go through, I do not want another child to experience what I felt, the feeling of a loved one leaving because that person was not fortunate enough to be born in the United States. Millions of families live in fear of family members being torn away from their family due to immigration issues. A portion of those families are located within my community and it is what I want to change upon graduation. Knowing that one day I will have the ability to prevent others from going through a similar experience as me, helps me maintain the strong worth ethic and passion for education which I have accumulated over time. My family spent years in search of an attorney that could aid with my father’s return, however, most attorneys did not have the clients best interest, many were in search of a way to make money.
In the San Antonio Community, my community, we do not need these types of attorneys. We need attorneys who understand the need for justice and are willing to help the people and focus less on the pay. This is the type of attorney I want to be, one who will be remembered for returning loved ones to families and fighting for what is just, making sure that my community lives peacefully and without fear of losing their loved ones. Receiving an education at St. Mary’s University will make a massive difference in my life to achieve my dream. I will be able to inspire my sisters to follow their dreams of going to college since it is their passion as well but most importantly, I can one day help a family who is going through the same situation my family underwent. However, this time ensuring that they receive the legal action everyone deserves.